Steps to refurbish and adapt a bathroom for disabled and elderly people

Steps to refurbish a toilet/bath into a bathroom adapted for disabled and elderly people.

You often ask us about the changes you need to make in order to have a bathroom that is more adapted for your elderly or for people with a physical disability. For this reason, we have decided to include in this post all the preventive measures that will help us to live more peacefully. Take note of the steps to turn a toilet into a bathroom adapted for the disabled and the elderly.

Changing the bathtub for shower trays for the elderly

It’s not a novelty that changing a bathtub for shower tray is one of the most demanded possible renovations to be carried out at home. And it is especially indicated when it comes to facilitating access to those with mobility issues.

With a shower tray you gain independence and it is a security measure that should be adopted obligatorily when we speak about senior or disabled people.

The shower trays to choose from can be of various types:

Ceramics: They are an old time classics. The cheapest but also the most slippery. For that reason, and because they have little resistance to possible bumps, we would not recommend them in case of being a shower tray intended for a person with reduced mobility.

Acrylics: The outer layer is acrylic and the inner layer is made from fibreglass or polyurethane. The interior has an agglomerated reinforcement that has to be a high density one to adequately resist the weight. They are somewhat less slippery than ceramics, but would not be the safest for a good grip.

Mineral filler (resin): Made from resin mixed with marble. They have great resistance to bumps. And they are highly non-slip. To increase this last feature, it is especially recommended that they are covered with what is known as “gel coat” for greater adhesion.

Natural stone: slate, marble, quartz or granite. They are also highly non-slip. The main disadvantage would be their high cost.

It would always be best to place the shower tray at ground level in order to eliminate any type of barrier and comfortably move a wheeled chair into the shower.

There are half-height screens available so someone could more comfortably help from outside the showering process of the person inside it.

Toilet for disabled

Most suitable toilets for the disabled

As useful as switching to special toilets for the disabled, it is to correctly install the specific bars or handles next to them so that people can use them properly. In addition to controlling the height of the elements which will be vital, for example, the toilet seat should be between 17.5 inch. (45cm) and 19.5 inch (50cm) from ground level.

Another tip is that the wash basin should be suspended, without a cabinet or pedestal at the bottom, so that a wheelchair can access without hitting any other element.

Other measures in bathrooms for the disabled

Other complementary adjustments that can help us to make the bathroom better adapted for handicapped and more accessible would be the use of shower chairs, non-slip floors or placing sliding doors instead of folding ones.

Using a home design software to create you desired batroom

You can use our design software and its bathroom wide range to design and play around with different positioning of the bath / basin /shower/toilet etc.

Remember, with our bathroom designer software range, you can design floorplans, create 3D mockups and submit your plans to the local authorities with accurate to scale elevations and plans.